I ordered: Steamed pork and green onion dumplings with their specialty coleslaw

Waiter/waitress says to order: What I ordered, or the pork and shrimp dumplings

Price: $$

Words can’t even begin to describe the feeling I get when I go to Qing Hua for soup dumplings. Let me try to take you through the experience of biting into a broth filled capsule of gloriousness without twitching.

The minute you enter Qing Hua, a serious looking waitress orders you to sit down (bless her heart, she means well). Then, she brings you a nicely steeped pot of Chinese tea, which really hits the spot on a cold day.

Though before I order my usual steamed pork and green onion dumplings, I chow down on the amazing coleslaw. It has a nice amount of garlic and even some rice noodles. Now here comes the fun part.

The dumplings arrive. Time to freak. But before you dig in, make sure to mix your dipping sauce however you wish! You can mix vinegar with chili oil and soya sauce to make a tangy and hot concoction.

Now you can bite the corner of the dumpling (make sure not to bite in the middle or you’ll leave with third degree splatter burns… not hot) and suck the broth out. Hell to the yes. Pure satisfaction.

Qing Hua is one of those authentic gems you’d neglect to notice walking down the street. It’s pretty dingy and tacky, what with its pluggable laser waterfall, but damn, is it good! It’s busiest at noon and 6pm, but it’s well worth the wait.

A word of advice: this joint is literally nestled between St. Mathieu and Guy on Lincoln street. Oh, and they only accept cash. And they serve Asian beer and sake. Yum!